Ben tossed it into the boy’s hands. “For you. I brought Cora something else.”
“If it’s a tarantula, I’m running for the house.” Cora placed a hand on her hip.
“I might have to chase you, then.” Ben chuckled.
Her lips curved upward. “I’d beat you inside and bolt the doors.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Charlie shook his rattle. “You two could race. Cora’s pretty fast, but I bet you could beat her.”
“Another day.” Ben turned back to his saddlebag. “Sadly, I didn’t find any tarantulas this trip, but I did find…”
A small object wrapped in an almost-white handkerchief lay in the palm of his callused hand. Her throat tightened. Whatever lay beneath the cloth, even if it was simple as a thimble, would likely outshine anything Arthur had given her. If she had any sense, she’d yank the book off the parlor table and hide it before Ben set foot in the house.
He unfolded the hankie.
Cora’s breath caught. A wooden hair comb, engraved with Indian blanket flowers across the top. The one she’d been eyeingin the glass case at Miller’s for months. How did Ben know? Of course, he’d spent too much. He was already going to have to buy supplies on credit. “We…the money…we can’t afford…” She should shush before she spoiled the moment. The man deserved a hug, not a scolding. “Thank you.” A smile broke across her face.
He toed the dirt. “I figured one little impractical trinket wouldn’t break the ranch.”
“Trinket?” She caressed the fine craftsmanship. “It’s a beautiful treasure. And you know it.”
He cocked a glance her way. “I know a treasure when I see it.” His eyes twinkled. As if he were talking about more than the comb.
Ben stood in the cool overhang of the stable roof, weaving the curry comb in circles along Penny’s neck. He’d had enough of the scorching sun for the day. Flecks of embedded dirt loosened from the sorrel’s copper-colored hide.
The way Cora’s face lit up at the sight of the hair comb had sent his head sailing in the clouds. She glowed as she caressed the engraved flowers—Indian blankets, she’d called them. Giving her anything personal was stepping over a line. He’d planned on waiting to give it to her—a day, a week, maybe even a month—but before he knew it, he’d whipped the present out of his saddlebag. She needed to know how special she was.
He’d momentarily lost track of every word in his head when she came around the corner to greet him with her hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back, like spun honey. Was it possible she’d worn it loose with him in mind? Not likely. She’dprobably just been in a hurry to get to the laundry this morning and hadn’t bothered to braid it. Still… He smiled to himself.
The back door of the stable swung open, and Charlie plodded out with a bucket of water. The boy had already asked him a couple of dozen questions about his two-week adventure of scouring the county and beyond for the VS cattle brand. “I finished filling up your tub in the back stall. Are you sure you don’t want to ask Cora to heat the water over the fire first?”
“I have no intention of troubling your sister. What’s the full bucket for?”
“I figured Penny might want another drink.”
“I’m sure she does.” Ben swiped his forearm across his sweated brow. “What’s Cora making for supper tonight?”
Charlie set the bucket in front of the mare. “Venison, turnip greens, and sweet potato pie.”
The other two horses at the end of the corral lifted their heads and moseyed toward the water.
“I love sweet potato pie.” Ben worked the comb toward Penny’s shoulders.
“Me too.” Charlie unrolled the snake skin from his pocket. “She didn’t make it for Dr. LeBeau when he was here.”
The curry comb paused in mid-motion. “The doctor was here while I was away?”
“Yep.” Charlie stretched the snake skin along the top rail of the corral.
The bulge in his throat wrenched up, then down. “Was somebody sick?”
“No.” Charlie ran his finger along the scales. “He just came to visit. Twice.”
“Twice? In two weeks?” Ben pivoted to face the boy.
Charlie shrugged and scuffed his shoe against the short grass. “I got home from hunting right before he left the firsttime. I had me a squirrel.” The boy brightened. “Cora cooked it for supper.”
